A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine has two guns pierced through his cheeks before the beginning of a street procession during the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket. ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA/REUTERS

Blood trickles down the tattooed torso of a devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine as he is pierced before a street procession during the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket. ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA/REUTERS

Two men have their fingers pierced through the cheeks of a devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine during a street procession during the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket. ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA/REUTERS